Monday - Ephesians 6 - Holiness (part 2)

  

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GAIN, there are some very specific & infinitely practical things that we should be doing as we strive to live holily. The grace of God does not relieve us from the obligations of submission to authority. Instead, we are enabled to live in a godly manner. At home, at work, or at play – it is imperative that we consider God's holy heart in every circumstance. "How does what I'm doing/thinking/saying make God feel?" That's quite a new perspective (when juxtaposed against questions about how it might feel to me to get caught breaking God's laws). Children toward their parents, & parents over their children; employees toward their employers, & employers over their employees – in every case, we are to do all things "as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22, 6:1, 4-7 & 9), considering His wishes; His wants. Our motivation is different than before.  The possibilities are way different as well; infinitely exceeding what we could accomplish under the former paradigm.

 

We have Christ. Rather, He has us. He is preeminent! Real holiness; holiness of the heart; a pure conscience; a clean record – were these things ever a possibility before Christ entered into the picture; before we were quickened?  It's a rhetorical question.  We know instinctively and doctrinally that the answer is an emphatic negative. But now that (by His love and mercy) we have access to Him, the sky is the limit. Of course, holiness alone is not our objective. We seek simply to please the Father and to worship Him truly. He is worthy! We were made for this very purpose. 

Friday - Ephesians 5 - Holiness (part 1)

 

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VER since we started studying the book of Romans, we have repeatedly addressed the issue of Christian liberty & the freedom that we have in Christ. At some point, it is certainly appropriate to state emphatically that liberty & holiness are not opposing conditions. There is nothing inconsistent to be found in the same preacher proclaiming liberty AND holiness. Remembering that practical holiness comes NOT by any rigid obedience to an inanimate list of rules (but only through submission to the living Spirit) there is still a place for a detailed description of what kinds of things the Spirit promotes (or suppresses) in us. We know that the unfeeling nature of the holy Law can only produce guilt, pain, & death in us. We also know that the comfort of the Spirit of Christ can produce genuine faith & love in us. It is these qualities that bring about what God describes as holiness in us. Our fellowmen then see piety, humility, morality, good character, & compassion

 

As we follow God; as we listen & learn from our Father (vs. 1). The first trait that should show up in us is familial love (vs. 2). That's no surprise. Brotherly love is promoted in every context & in every dispensation. Beyond that (& as an application of that) sexual sins & covetousness are condemned as unbecoming behavior in a saint (vs. 3). Paul also addresses our speech. Followers of Christ should be speaking gracious words of gratitude.

 

There’s more, but that’s enough to keep us busy for now.  But remember, this is what God works in us, not what we work for Him.  There is a big difference.  One is humble faith in what God can do through me.  The other is proud effort & is an offense to God.

Thursday - Ephesians 4 - One

 

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 dozen times in this chapter Paul uses the word "one" as he attempts to encourage his believing readers to pursue unity within the faith. We know that many evils have been peddled in the name of unity. However, this unfortunate reality does not negate the objective which was originally set forth by God Himself. Here, Paul reminds us that God desires unity among His children. Recall in the prayer of Christ in John 17 that He prayed repeatedly for oneness in the church (John 17:11 & 21-23).

 

In verse 1, Paul reminds us to follow our calling. As individual members of the body of Christ, we should assume that if we all fulfill our exact calling according to the perfect leadership of the Holy Spirit, then a resulting unity will be inevitable. This is where oneness among us starts. Being “at one” with God is fundamental.

 

Paul’s next statement follows logically. As we listen to the Spirit, we will find that He is leading us to be humble & patient with each other. Oneness in the church requires happy submission in our interpersonal relationships. How can we achieve oneness in doctrine & purpose if we can't even achieve it in spirit? Not that kindness should eclipse truth. But a kind attitude is a strong buttress to it. Unity can’t be attained if we won’t strive for it (vs. 3).

As Christians, we naturally have strong substantive bonds (vs. 4-6). We are all part of the same body – the body of Christ. We all share the same Spirit. We await the same destiny. We serve the same Lord. We express the same faith. We do indeed have a common experience. We are all members of the one and only true and acceptable religion. Our doctrine binds us to one another. 

Wednesday - Ephesians 3 - Mystery of Christ

 

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N Ephesians 3 Paul refers to the-gospel-to-the-world as a “mystery” – a hidden secret (vs. 3-6 & 9). While every accepted saint in every age has been given God's grace, & while every child of God in every dispensation is justified by faith, & while the death of Christ is the sufficient agent of change in the condition of every devotee (vs. 15), the full understanding (of how God accomplishes redemption & applies His love) has not been fully understood by all (vs. 5). But Jesus revealed this mystery to Paul with full clarity (vs. 3-4). Amazingly, we (through Paul's writings) likewise have this access. We get to see the full picture of God's plan of redemption. So, we fellowship joyfully with God & with one another around the glorious voluntary sacrifice of His Son (vs. 9).

 

In our era (the age of the church), God's amazing love has been discovered primarily by non-Jews (vs. 6). Paul calls this revealed mystery of the gospel the "unsearchable riches of Christ" (vs. 8). Yet, with God all things are possible. So, through revelation, that which is unsearchable can be seen clearly (vs. 9). Or, to repeat Paul’s most excellent words: "Know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God" (vs. 19). How can we know the unknowable? God reveals His love to us – as undeserving as we are – and so experientially we get to taste the most spectacular offering in (or out) of this world.

Tuesday - Ephesians 2 - Quickened

 

HERE we are again in another chapter with a gigantic message. It is a chapter which speaks for itself, yet it deserves volumes to be written from it. Ephesians 2 is an analytical dissection of what happened to us at the point of our salvation. Perhaps Paul sails higher here than at any other point in all his writings.

 
In the 1^st chapter of Ephesians we saw again that God is the originator of our salvation. Here we realize why it had to be that way. We were dead. Dead men don't do anything. Dead men tell no tales, & certainly don't act in them. Spiritually, we had no abilities & no potential.  But, like Christ did with Lazarus physically, He has raised us up spiritually to walk in newness of life (vs. 1). Death has died & life has been revived in us. We have been quickened.  We have been made alive by the power of the life of Christ (vs. 5). At one time we were spiritual zombies, if you please. We were the walking dead (vs. 2). We were as doomed as the devil himself (vs. 3). But God intervened! God's mercy, love, grace, & kindness has accomplished unimaginable good in us. We are seated "together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (vs. 6). What a gift!

Monday - Ephesians 1 - In Christ

 

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NLIKE the epistles we've looked at so far, this epistle does not appear to be a response to any specific problem within the church, but was intended to encourage the believers in Ephesus by unwrapping for them some of the glories of the things which God's children possess in this dispensation of grace.

 

First off, Paul begins by calling these believers "saints" and "the faithful" (vs. 1). Of course, he spends a considerable amount of time after that showing them just how it was that they became saints, and exactly what it means to be faithful.

 

We are blessed (vs. 3). That's putting it simply. However, in that little 3-word sentence is a crucial truth. It’s a truth which is reiterated from many angles in this little letter. It is the fact that God is the source of our salvation. He is, after all, THE Savior. We are not our own savior (Psalm 100:3). He does the blessing (Hebrews 7:7). We are the recipients of His grace. He is the giver; the initiator. He is the power behind our redemption. Through (and in) Christ, we are the inheritors of unfathomable heavenly things.

 

This doctrine of election (here addressed) does not negate our responsibilities. We must trust (vs. 13). In fact, the timing of the application of redemption is addressed here just as surely as is the timing of the plan. The application (through the sealing presence of the Holy Spirit) comes distinctly "after'' belief (vs. 13). In any case, all the glory goes to God (vs. 6). None of the credit is rightfully ours.

 

Friday - Galatians 6 - The Burdens of Being Free

 

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T has been said that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. Well, when it comes to our freedom in Christ, the price has been paid in full. However, there are considerable responsibilities, which come along with the freedom we enjoy. One of the responsibilities that we encounter concerns how we respond to our spiritual siblings when they fall into some habit of sin. Freedom demands humility from those who are free. Remembering our own bondage and knowing how gracious God has been (and is being) toward us, we are called to be gentle and helpful in our actions toward other Christians. We have been freed from our burdens in part so that we can help others with theirs (vs. 2), not so we can flaunt our position or imagine that we are superior (vs. 3).

 

Notice that even within the program of God's grace, the principle of sowing and reaping is still in place (vs. 7). Living in the strength of the flesh and under the letter of the old law produced a certain kind of fruit – namely, death. Now, living under the benevolent influence of the Spirit also produces a specific variety of fruit (vs. 8-9). So, we ourselves – having been delivered from the muck and mire of sin – it behooves us all to turn back mercifully in order to give a  hand  to  others. Others teeter precariously on the edge of the slime pits of sin and debt. Our believing brothers and sisters always need our help and encouragement. We must be spiritual (vs. 1) so that we can help others who need spiritual help (vs. 10). This is our calling; our privilege; our blessed opportunity. We are the recipients of God's grace. The story of the cross is our story.  We should never be ashamed of the cross of Christ. We should carry it high and invite all others to bathe in the glow of its light.

Thursday - Galatians 5 - Breathing Free Air

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O far in this epistle, Paul has challenged the Galatian believers to embrace their spiritual freedom (Galatians 5:1, Colossians 2:16 & 18). Here in chapter 5 he challenges them not to bounce too far to the left though (Galatians 5:13 & 1^st Corinthians 8:9). In other words, we are not supposed to allow the rules of religious oppressors to stand between us and God. But on the other hand, we must allow God's Spirit in us to guard against the eruption of our own fleshly lusts. Unrighteous immorality is just as destructive as moralistic self-righteousness. There is a balance; a good measure of moderation; a controlled and happy medium in the golden mean of spiritual freedom. We are indeed free from the yoke of bondage (which is seen in the execution of strict justice against every infraction; also seen in the impossibility of perfection). But as we have noted previously, we are also freed from the infractions themselves. Christ gives us both forgiveness and a new nature.  We should have a new set of desires, so that while potentially we could do anything wrong without losing our salvation, it is no longer our nature to seek for the fulfillment of our fleshly desires. We now have a higher and a nobler purpose.  We are truly free.

Wednesday - Galatians 4 - Children of the King

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DOPTION is a beautiful thing. There is no room for the words "accidental” or “incidental” in the process of adoption. It is intentional and deliberate. Now, if a child (we'll say, a young man) is adopted at the age of 15. Let's suppose that before his adoption this young man had worked as an employee for the couple that adopts him. What if he works feverishly and constantly in order to please his new parents? That's sounds nice enough. But if,  after  his adoption, they  were to  discover that he was trying to work hard enough to impress them sufficiently in order to be accepted into their family and to become their son, surely his new parents would be disappointed and disturbed by the  lack of simple trust. There is nothing wrong with hard work, but the reason (driving it) matters a great deal. If he works diligently because he is grateful and because he loves his parents, that is well and good.  But, if he works with actual disbelief that he has really been accepted, or if he works in fear that he will be thrown out of the family, then the proper filial feelings are not present. He will be missing out on much of what he gained by being adopted.

 

Paul understood how marvelous our adoption into the family of God truly is. We are not just servants of the Highest God. We are His children (1^st John 3:2 & Galatians 4:7). We are closer to God than we might have imagined possible (John 15:15). The price paid for our soul was far higher than the value of a mere slave. We have been purchased and set free. We are inheritors of righteousness. We have the very Spirit of the Son of God living in us. We have access to the Father, just as Christ possesses. This is special. We must not lose sight of it.  We are children of the King.

Tuesday - Galatians 3 - Qualified by Faith Alone

 

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E know that we were not born morally qualified for heaven. We also know that there is no amount of personal sacrifice, ritual or devotion that is enough to bring us up to God's perfect standard. However, there is one qualifying trait that God demands for us to become His children. We must trust Him (Hebrews 11:6). But not only is faith essential for our salvation, faith is the key ingredient that activates every other spiritual quality that Christ has planted in us. The Christians of Galatia had lost sight of the second half of this formula. They came to Christ through faith, but afterward they got distracted by the law (vs.2-3). The law of the Jews had only ever demonstrated that human flesh is incapable of achieving perfection; therefore, Christ was needed.  The Law had not worked for the Jews, why would these Gentiles (vs. 14) imagine that it might work for them? Well, false teachers had led these Galatians astray into a mode of religious legalism and futile attempts at self-righteousness.

 

Paul used an interesting (and perhaps not anticipatable) argument against them. He asked about how they had received the Holy Ghost and how the apostles had performed miracles among them (vs. 5). In other words, did the keeping of the law have anything to do with those demonstrations of godly spiritual power? The answer was an obvious, "No!" And Paul pointed out that Abraham had been blessed and accepted by God 430 years before the Law of Moses was even written (vs. 17).

Monday - Galatians 2 - Crucified with Christ

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N this chapter, Paul ably addresses the relationship of the Jews (the circumcised) with the Gentiles (the uncircumcised). It is rather clear that Paul did not consider the differences between the two to be in the least bit significant – not if the economy of heaven is the measuring standard. Paul even intentionally refused to allow one of his apprentices (Titus) to be circumcised (because it was important that Paul contribute continually to an untainted definition of the gospel). This was a bold move indeed, especially considering that Paul took Titus with him when he went to Jerusalem to report to the church leaders there concerning his successful ministry of the gospel among the Gentiles. While we know very well how willing Paul was to adjust & to make concessions in order to spread the gospel, he was also willing to be infinitely stubborn in defense of that same pure gospel (vs. 4-5).

 

In summation, Paul declared that he was (& we – both Jews & Gentiles – are) "crucified with Christ'' (vs. 20).  On top of that, now Christ lives in us. We died in Him & now He lives in us. This is the reason & the reality of our salvation. Safe from hell because the debt & penalty of my sin has been paid in full. There is no double jeopardy in God's plan of redemption. When He was on the Cross, I was there with Him. It is the height of the vicarious ministry of Christ on our behalf. He became sin for us so that we could become righteousness (2^nd Corinthians 5:21). We are justified (declared to be innocent) due to His finished work on the cross, & our faith in it.

 

 

Friday - Galatians 1 - The Source of the Gospel

 

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 man is delusional if he thinks Christianity is a religion derived and contrived by human authors (like the rest of the world's religions). Biblical Christianity is a divine revelation. It’s not a superstition; not a substitution; not just a philosophy; not a manufactured system of morals and rituals. In every false religion, what you have is a god made by men; an invented god. In Christianity we have a God who made us (Genesis 2:7 & John 1:1-3). 

As one of the foremost ministers of the gospel in all history, the apostle Paul made it very clear that he did not obtain his soteriology from human sources, but from the very Christ of God Himself (vs. 11-12). God both called Paul to be His messenger, and He gave him the message (as well as a clear understanding of that message). Not that there is anything wrong with getting the truth from a secondary source. The Galatians had obtained the good news of salvation from human instruments, just like most of the rest of us. Of course, somewhere along the way they got distracted (vs. 6).

 

If the good news of salvation was only a feel-good perspective (intended to help us cope with the pains of reality) then we might well seek for a better system somewhere. We might listen to other perspectives with an open mind and an uncondemning spirit. But that's not right. Nobody except Christ has ever died for your sins & mine. He alone has purchased our souls' redemption.  Paul was called by God to proclaim the gracious news of rescue and deliverance through Christ. And this Paul did faithfully. So too should we.

Thursday – 2nd Corinthians 13 - Careful Christianity

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PPARENTLY, the Corinthian believers were somewhat critical of Paul and his ministry (vs. 3). Never mind that he was their spiritual mentor. They acted like spiritual teenagers: a little defiant and a lot too big for their own britches. In fact, if you read between the lines, you will notice that Paul turns the Corinthians' own critical gun against them. They were questioning Paul's position and the rightfulness of his authority. He accepted this up to a point, but then he challenged them to use the same attitude of caution and zealous differentiation while looking in the mirror (vs. 5). It seems that they had expressed concern over whether perhaps Paul and his companions in ministry were reprobates, or true teachers. So Paul asked if perhaps there were reprobates in Corinth. He was literally allowing for the possibility that some of those who claimed to be his converts were still lost and on their way to hell.

 

One thing is sure, the next time he made it to Corinth, Paul intended to preach a rather stinging hellfire and brimstone message in order to purge the church of what he perceived to be an unclean spiritual element. Paul did not relish such an occasion, but he was willing to exercise his apostolic responsibility in order to promote spiritual perfection in this church.

As already stated, Paul loved the Corinthians dearly. In closing this letter, his farewell remarks gently express his loyalty to true doctrine & to the persons of the Godhead. Yet shining through is Paul's sincere desire for wholeness & holiness among his friends (vs. 10-14). He offered a simple yet perfect balance of orthodoxy & compassion. Paul expected & demanded that truth be accepted continually yet he was noticeably patient with his friends in the faith.

Wednesday – 2nd Corinthians 12 - A Mixed Bag

  

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HERE are certain sentiments expressed by the Apostle Paul that are obviously classic, and intensely human. His perspectives feel very familiar. In this chapter, for example, Paul combines quite an admixture of good and bad into one context. Here he mentions his own heavenly visions (although he does at least thinly mask his own identity), but then he follows that up with reflections upon his earthly afflictions as well as his frustrations at the evil that he perceived to be around him.

 

The spiritual walk is indeed quite the mixed bag. We have the greatest gift imaginable. We are God's children; adopted into His family by His own good grace and mercy. We have the Spirit of Christ in us. We have His full written revelation and a certain promise of eternal bliss. We even have access to an infinite source of holy spiritual power. Yet, our lives are still spattered with frequent temptations, failures, and frustrations. Struggles drag us down and prohibit us from soaring. Paul could have soared. He was an apostle. His journey was a rich one, with many close encounters with God. He was told things that nobody else got to hear; things so wonderful he was not even allowed to write about it. Yet, he wrote, "I will only glory & rejoice because of my infirmities... my limitations, inhibitions and difficulties." Why? Because we are all apt to revel in & relish those few mountain peaks that have been reached, while abhorring & complaining about the many valleys between the peaks.

Tuesday – 2nd Corinthians 11 - An Open Book & the Value of Truth

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ISTENING to (or reading) unadulterated frankness can be incredibly refreshing, and humbling. Yet Paul called his own openness "folly" (vs. 1, 16-18, 21, 23 & 30). Apparently, the context of Paul's transparency was the threat of false doctrine from false teachers. In combatting errors and in resisting those who taught those errors in Corinth, Paul needed to defend himself and his own ministry. It wasn't personal. It was spiritual. He was jealous over the Corinthians, but his jealousy was wholesome and good (vs. 2). He was concerned that they might become distracted; that they would lose sight of the gospel. In defense of the true gospel of Christ, Paul spoke of his own sacrifices in ministry. None of Satan's ministers had a testimony even remotely comparable.

 

On the surface, it sounds like Paul is just bragging. But Paul had a defining perspective that helps us to understand the context of such claims. He knew that every good thing that he possessed was a product of God's grace. So, in this passage, he puts on his finest suit and presents his own resume. He included many troubles that he had endured. But he was not complaining. Neither was he full of himself. He was simply willing to risk much in order to give the Corinthians some perspective on what a true and loyal servant of Christ looks like. Since the integrity of the messenger certainly validates the accuracy of the message, Paul gave his ministerial credentials.

Monday – 2nd Corinthians 10 - Obeying our Gentle Christ

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F anyone asks my mother to quote a verse of Scripture, she will always quote 2^nd Corinthians 10:5. What a marvelously relevant passage, not just for my wonderful Mom, but for all of us!  Each of us struggle (to some degree) with our thought life. Even if a person has mastery over lustful thoughts (Job 31:1, 2^nd Timothy 2:22 & Matthew 5:28) and jealousy (which are truly two of the most destructive thought patterns we could possibly fall into) there are so many other insidious ways that our old nature can creep into our way of thinking and bring defeat into our spiritual lives. So, Paul admonishes us all here to attack our own evil thoughts violently and without mercy (Romans 13:14). We must learn to capture and subdue any and every thought that has any potential to threaten or to eclipse our fellowship with Christ. Obedience starts with attitude. Attitude is produced by a manner of thinking. For us to obey our gentle Lord, we must begin by submitting our minds to Him.

 

As motivation, Paul reminds us of Jesus' meekness and gentleness. Can we snub the Savior who treats us so generously? Paul demonstrated these same attitudes (meekness and gentleness) toward the Corinthians. In fact, it was the Spirit of Christ in Paul that made these sentiments possible for him. Paul was simply trying to produce continual obedience in the Corinthians; and in us. So, he reminds us all that obedience begins on the inside, with our internal reactions to and interactions with the Holy Spirit. In obeying God and in preaching the gospel of Christ, we must look continually upward and inward before we look outward (vs. 12-16).

Friday – 2nd Corinthians 9 - Accountability: Keep Commitments

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ONCERNING our giving to others, there can be a little distance between our decision to help and the actual giving and collecting of our gifts. In that intermission, our fleshly mind (and the devil himself) can get in the way of our noble goals. Paul wrote this chapter to deal with and hopefully prevent that exact brand of failure.

 

The Corinthians had been touched by reports about the troubles and hardships that other believers were enduring. With tremendous zeal and passion, they had evidently made some rather large commitments to help those who were in need. Yet, while Paul had spoken publicly about the largeness of the hearts of the Corinthians, he must have eventually recognized that when it came time for them to make good on their large commitments, there could be a very real temptation for them to back out. Paul was not trying to produce a burden in these believers; they had already caught a vision of the need. What Paul was working on here was simply the importance and impact of follow through.

 

What is it that we can do to help ourselves follow through? Well, here Paul used something that we commonly call accountability.

Thursday – 2nd Corinthians 8 - Material Equality in the Church

 

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AVING attended good Bible believing churches all my life, it is sad that I have never heard a message on material equality in the church. It is strange because material equality was present in the first church (Acts 4:32 & 2:45-46). It is strange because Paul clearly addressed this issue here in 2^nd Corinthians 8. Paul was certainly not preaching modern socialism of communism of any sort (especially not by coercion or administered by secular government). The equality that Paul promoted (vs. 13-15) was supposed to be a natural outgrowth of Christian love. It was a voluntary thing (vs. 12). And Paul was an ardent proponent of hard work (Ephesians 4:28 & 2^nd Thessalonians 3:10-12).

 

Now, while we are referencing support passages (1^st Tim. 6:17-18), let's include the wisdom of Solomon from passages like Proverbs 3:27-28 & 19:17. And Moses addressed this topic as well in Leviticus 19:10 & 23:22. There it is recorded that the Jews who had plenty were supposed to share with folks who had so much less. Jesus preached this generosity as well in His strong support for the giving of alms (Luke 11:41& 12:33-34), & of general generosity (Luke 6:38).

 

It's not complicated. God had something that we needed, so He shared. Now He enables us to follow His example. Those of us who have more than we need should be obliged to give to others who have less than they need. Here Paul complimented the Corinthians on their compassion & their generous intentions; their "ready mind" (vs. 19). He bragged unabashedly about the gracious generosity, benevolence, & philanthropy of the Macedonians.

Wednesday – 2nd Corinthians 7 - Because We Care

 

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OMETIMES the only thing that matters is that people know how much we care. I'm not discounting principles and power. Certainly, it is not my desire to marginalize diligence or substance, or to just be emotional. But it is unmistakable that Paul expressed this exact sentiment here in this chapter (vs. 12). In this case, the thing that mattered most to him was that the Corinthians knew that he cared. The context of this letter was Paul’s desire to comfort the believers in Corinth with love.

 

In vs. 1 Paul calls the Corinthians his "dearly beloved" ones. He was promoting holiness and faith among them, but it was his love for them that he used as leverage to move them in that direction. In vs. 3-4 Paul basically gushed about his intense concern for their spiritual wellbeing. With open fondness, Paul rehearsed Titus' testimony concerning the interest that the Corinthians had showed concerning his (Paul's) wellbeing (vs. 6-7). And, concerning the sorrow that had been produced in the Corinthians by Paul's first letter, here he assured them that it was not their sorrow that he sought; it was their holiness. He only rejoiced in their sorrow because of the repentance which it had produced in them. His desire had not been to break their heart. He had only been willing to break their heart in order to bring them into full fellowship with the Father and with all other saints. If they walked in errors, there would have been a gap in their spiritual relationships. Paul was practicing tough love – not because he enjoyed being tough, but because he realized that tough love was what his friends in Corinth needed. Although his pen was sharp, Paul's heart overflowed with gentleness and kindness.

Tuesday – 2nd Corinthians 6 - Contrast in Service

 

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NE of the most important things for us to remember as Christians is what and where we once were. We must frequently review the fact that God has saved us from some very bad things. Of course, we are saved UNTO some good things as well. What and where we are now (as well as what and where we will be some day) are all marvelous realizations. Our feet are planted on solid ground. We are reconciled to God. We are saved unto good works. We are now the children of God.  Heaven is our home.  The Spirit of Christ lives in us. But there are as many things to put off and dispose of as there are to put on and add (Colossians 3:8-10). We've been rescued from an ocean of sin, but there are still many puddles and ponds that we need to avoid as we strive to walk (by faith) up the straight and narrow path. As Christians, our lives are supposed to stand in stark contrast to the lives of the unregenerate unbelievers among whom we live (Titus 2:14 & 1^st Peter 2:9). It is vital that we live in holiness so that the grace of God is not wasted on us, and so that the ministry is never blamable (vs. 1 & 3).

 

Now, because God's children are called to minister in the world, there are many distinct contrasts in our spiritual service as well. Paul lists these characteristics carefully in vs. 4-10. For those of us who strive sincerely to serve the Master, there are very specific ways that we should live. And there always seems to be hardships to match every endeavor. Yet God is faithful. No matter what we encounter or endure, God invites us to rely on Him for our strength and direction. So, we preach with compassion and love to the inhabitants of this world, yet we are called to be separate from them (vs. 14-17).

Monday – 2nd Corinthians 5 - Reconciliation

 

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T the core, reconciliation involves the repair of something that is broken. Disputing parties (who at one time agreed) can be reconciled; then they agree. Reconciliation ends conflict. Reconciliation brings acceptance. It creates compatibility.  What a wonderful realization!  We have been reconciled to God. Our relationship with Him was severed in the Garden of Eden. We became God's enemies. But through Jesus Christ, we have been granted access into the Father's presence once again. For those of us who are in Christ, the conflict between God and man has ceased.

 

Now, because of Christ, there are some hurdles that have been cut very low. Not the least of which is the issue of our death. The finality of death in this world is indeed a sad and frustrating inhibition. But in Christ we find that death has become for us a doorway to improvement. If our current body is taken from us, we will simply find ourselves in a better place. It's not just a cliché. It's the truth (vs. 1-4). And the evidence (that something better is in our future) is the presence of the Spirit of God within us (vs. 5). We have God in us, but not with the same perceptibility that we will have someday (vs. 6 & 8). Currently, "We walk by faith, not by sight..." (2nd Corinthians 5:7). But someday our faith will be rewarded with sight. Still, because of Christ's reconciling work, we are accepted of God both here AND there; in both the now AND then (vs. 9).